Electro-giggles

Music always seems to be more memorable when humor is involved. Perhaps the prolific careers of Beck and The Flaming Lips can be attributed to their ability to incorporate humor into their music. Maybe the same will be said one day about DFA (the producers behind the band the Rapture) affiliated, electro-punks LCD Soundsystem.Their self-titled debut album is comprised of hip-shaking “we don’t take ourselves so seriously” anthems. The lead off track, “Daft Punk is Playing at My House,” is a Molotov cocktail of funk grooves, disco beats, and Mark E. Smith inspired vocals. Its hypnotic falsetto choruses and sly humor make it a dance-floor classic. Up-tempo songs like “On Repeat,” and “Disco Infiltrator” achieve the balance of silliness and sophistication while working brilliantly within the context of the album. On the other hand, down-tempo dramas like the “Dear Prudence” guitar jerks and lullaby vocals of “Never as Tired as When I’m Waking Up,” feel out of place, despite all of their beauty.

What truly makes LCD Soundsystem worthwhile is the inclusion of their early singles, conveniently collected on an additional disc. The major highlight, “Losing My Edge,” is an electro-funk classic. It tells the tale of an aging hipster who has experienced musical innovation first-hand, but is being “out-geeked” by younger audiophiles, who have only read about bands like Can on the internet. The music is relentless and bombastic, and the lyrics are humorous and timely.

Indeed, LCD Soundsystem’s ability to harness a groove and maintain its excitement is intoxicating. But in the end it’s their sense of humor and their willingness to incorporate it into their music that makes them so special.